This post is about finding a gite, B&B, or other lodging options in the Minervois near Carcassonne.
Of course, if you want to stay at a vineyard near Carcassonne, I strongly recommend staying with me at O’Vineyards Bed & Breakfast. But I’m technically in the Cabardes (which is a small area to the west of the Minervois).
Winemaker B&Bs, gites, and other lodging
I should start by saying that this is not an exhaustive list. Whereas I posted a full list of lodging options with Cabardes winemakers, the Minervois is almost 4 times larger than the Cabardes. So I’m just going to list a few winemakers who I know have lodging on their estates.
Clos Centeilles, Siran – An excellent winemaker with chambres d’hotes and gites on the property.
Domaine des Homs, Fanjeaux – A house rental in the middle of an organic vineyard in the Minervois
Le Pech d’André – Small gite on a vineyard in Azillanet; they run a vineyard blog too.
Chateau Canet, Rustiques – A Terra Vitis vineyard that looks toward sustainable agriculture with cottage rental
Domaine Vordy Mayranne , Minerve – Gite on a mom and pop vineyard
Le Relais Occitan, Beauvoir – This used to be an operational winery, but now it focuses on rather unique lodging. You can sleep inside one of the old wooden fermentation tanks (150 hectoliter foudres) that have been outfitted as single and double rooms. They also have more conventional rooms and gites if you’re into that sort of thing. ;D
Domaine Vignalet, Laure Minervois – There is a photo of a pretty delicious-looking Cassoulet on their website and this vineyard seems very homey.
Domaine du Siestou, Laure Minervois – This vineyard lodging comes with bikes to go riding alongside the Canal du Midi
Domaine du Viala, Paraza – I’m not sure if this is a winery or not. It used to be though!
Full directory of lodging in the Minervois
The Minervois has created a pretty elaborate index of lodging options which you can sort by village or how many stars its received. Although I’m pretty sure there are some folks missing from this database too. It’s a big area and getting everybody to work together on this sort of listing is like herding cats.
I hope all this is helpful and that you find a lovely place to stay in while visiting the Languedoc Roussillon!
I took some exterior photos of O’Vineyards Bed & Breakfast now that it’s nearing completion. Things are looking good!
You can really see how close the rooms are to the vines. How clear the sky is. This is life on a vineyard after all!
This is the window of the Cabardes room. You can look out over the Merlot vines from here. Sit watching the high road of Villemoustaussou with Carcassonne off to the south. Soak in the sunny south of France in the privacy of our vines.
What a view!! That’s Cabernet Sauvignon stretching off toward the valley in Villegailhenc and La Montagne Noire beyond that. This photos taken from inside the room so it’s actually the view. Hard to believe, right?
This is a list of Cabardes vineyards that provide bed & breakfast services or other lodging options north of Carcassonne.
Of course, if you want to stay at a vineyard, I strongly recommend staying at O’Vineyards Bed & Breakfast.
But this post includes all the options for staying with winemakers in the Cabardes.
Why stay in Cabardes?
The Cabardes is a gorgeous region of France that is very close to the historic medieval castle of Carcassonne. Proximity to the Cité makes the Cabardes a perfect vacation area because it means you can visit the Cité de Carcassonne, the Canal du Midi, and benefit from all the amenities of Carcassonne. There’s a train station and an International airport (almost exclusively RyanAir flights though). You’re less than hour’s drive from the Mediterranean coast, about an hour from Toulouse, about an hour and a half from Montpellier, and a couple of hours from the Pyrenees.
I should also mention you’ll be surrounded by delicious wine!! 🙂
The Cabardes AOC is small, dominated by independent wine producers, and features a unique blend of Mediterranean and Atlantic grape varietals.
Vineyard B&B, gites, and other lodging
O’Vineyards Bed & Breakfast – Villemoustaussou
4 elegantly furnished B&B rooms with direct view on the vines. You’ll be sharing the building with us, a Franco-American family with a small vineyard and winery just north of Carcassonne. We’re very happy to host, and we have a full range of high end red wines.
Ventaillole, Ventenac Cabardes
B&B on an organic vineyard in Ventenac Cabardes.
Domaine des Homs
Technically, this is in the Minervois but I thought I’d mention it since the winemakers also produce some Cabardes and these two appellations are close neighbors that share the south-facing slope of the Montagne Noire. This is a gorgeous house in the center of their Minervois property and the adjacent photo shows how the vines creep across the front of the property.
Auzias – Pennautier
A gite with view on the winery. Red, white and rose wines.
Cazaban Gites – Conques sur Orbiel / Villegailhenc
4 gites located on a small organic vineyard. Red and rose wines.
Rayssac –
Rayssac used to have gites, but I don’t know if the new owner maintains them anymore. The website has changed significantly recently so watch this space.
Chateau Pennautier properties – Pennautier
The de Lorgerils have a lot of different properties and gite offers.
